Climate Change Posing Numerous Difficulties to Farmers- Kerala Agriculture Minister

Climate change, according to Kerala Agriculture Minister P Prasad, is viewed as a greater threat than war, and it creates challenges for farmers today. He described the Spices Board's introduction of weather-based insurance for tiny cardamom as a positive effort at a ceremony held here on Saturday.

Prasad delivered the Spices Board's Small Cardamom Productivity Awards to the recipients, as well as weather-based crop insurance policies.

"Climate change and global warming pose a greater threat to farmers than conflict, and this is the greatest challenge they face today. We need to take climate change more seriously, and the Spices Board's introduction of weather-based insurance for small cardamom farmers is a positive step toward protecting farmers from such disasters "Prasad explained.

For food safety in cultivation, the minister also urged that farmers practice and adopt progressive farming practices such as carbon-neutral agriculture. Prasad presented small cardamom farmers with production prizes for the years 2019-20 and 2020-21, as well as weather-based crop insurance plans, a revolutionary insurance policy created by the Spices Board to safeguard crops from weather-related calamities.

Jomy Mathew, the recipient of the IPC award for the finest pepper grower in the country for 2020, was also honoured at the event. The occasion was presided over by A G Thankappan, Chairman of the Spices Board, who voiced worry overpricing and market volatility that negatively affect farmers.

He stated that the Board has been working hard to assist farmers in any way possible, such as the new weather-based insurance programme for small cardamoms that was established on a trial basis in Idukki.

"The Spices Board has been implementing programmes like planting material production through certified nurseries in farms, setting up irrigation facilities, purchasing and installing cardamom dryer, washer, and cleaner, among others, with the goal of making India a premier supplier of cardamom," Thankappan said.

Despite the hurdles given by pandemic and changes in climatic conditions, cardamom producers have achieved outstanding progress in output and contributed significantly to the export of spices, according to D Sathiyan IFS, Secretary of Spices Board.

The occasion was attended by Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose, Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden, and MLA T J Vinod, among others.

The Cardamom Productivity Awards were established by the Board to recognize and encourage innovative cardamom growers who have achieved high levels of productivity. In the organic category, there is also a special award for the highest productivity. A committee formed for this purpose selects the winners from the nominations received.